FAQ — IdrAgraWEB Platform
1. What area is covered by the weather and soil data available on the platform?
In the current version, IdrAgraWEB is primarily designed for applications in the Lombardy plain. The platform integrates pre-processed territorial and agro-meteorological data, reducing the work required from users when preparing inputs. Expansion of the coverage area is planned as part of future developments, with progressive coverage of larger areas of the Po Valley and the Po River basin.
2. Do you plan to add other areas?
Yes. Expanding the data integrated into the platform and extending the area of use are among the planned developments. The goal is to progressively make IdrAgraWEB available over increasingly larger areas, starting from the Lombardy plain and expanding towards the Po Valley/Po River basin.
3. Why is weather data available only for a predefined maximum period? Are previous years not accessible?
The years available on the platform depend on the meteorological time series that have already been uploaded, checked, and made consistent with the model requirements. IdrAgra requires complete and homogeneous time series for the main agro-meteorological variables: minimum and maximum temperature, precipitation, minimum and maximum relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation.
In the current version, previous years are not accessible through the web interface, but they may be added in the future if the time series are available, validated, and consistent with the format required by the model.
4. When will data for the current year be available?
Data for the current year will be available after the completion of the collection, quality control, validation, and upload procedures. For model simulations, it is important that the time series are complete and consistent across all required variables, in order to avoid partial or non-comparable results.
5. What is the source of the weather data?
The weather data integrated into the platform come from a selection of weather stations with complete and validated time series for the variables required by the model. For current applications in the Lombardy plain, the planned source is a subset of ARPA Lombardia stations, selected to ensure the availability of precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation data.
6. What is the source of the soil data?
The soil data used by the platform come from soil maps and territorial databases processed to derive the parameters required by IdrAgra, such as saturated water content, field capacity, wilting point, hydraulic conductivity, hydrological group, and parameters for capillary rise. The model uses these parameters to represent soil hydraulic behaviour across the different fields.
7. Can I upload customized weather or soil data, for example data measured on my farm?
The standard IdrAgraWEB workflow uses the weather and soil data already integrated into the platform, making the simulation simpler and faster. Depending on the enabled functionalities and the user's permissions, some parameters can be modified or customized. For specific requirements concerning the use of farm-specific datasets, such as private weather stations or detailed soil surveys, please contact support.
8. To create a simulation I have to upload a .gpkg file. What does this mean?
The .gpkg file, or GeoPackage, is a GIS format that contains geographic information. In IdrAgraWEB it is used to define the simulation domain, that is, the fields or areas on which the model must operate.
In practice, the file must contain valid polygons representing the fields or calculation units. Each polygon should have a correct geometry, should not overlap other polygons, and should use a coordinate reference system consistent with the one required by the platform. IdrAgra uses the geometry and extent of the area to associate territorial, meteorological, and crop data, and to convert water depths expressed in millimetres into volumes.
A .gpkg file can be created using GIS software such as QGIS, starting from shapefiles, farm surveys, cadastral boundaries, or manually drawn polygons.
9. Is there a limit to the maximum number of fields or cells that can be simulated?
Yes, the web platform may impose an operational limit on the maximum number of fields or cells that can be simulated. This limit is intended to maintain reasonable computation times and ensure service stability. For very large simulations, at the command-area or irrigation district scale, direct use of IdrAgra or a dedicated configuration may be more appropriate.
10. Does IdrAgraWEB require software to be installed on my computer?
No. IdrAgraWEB is designed to operate entirely online: the simulation is executed on the platform's servers and the user works through a web interface. This eliminates the need to install the IdrAgra executables, manually configure the working environment, or directly manage input and output files.
11. What results does IdrAgraWEB produce?
The platform produces results that can be explored through dashboards, maps, charts, and reports. The main outputs include weather statistics, irrigation requirements, required water volumes, soil water balance, flows to or from the water table, runoff, evaporation, transpiration, and estimated yields. Reports can be used to compare years, scenarios, crops, or irrigation methods.
12. Will IdrAgraWEB replace IdrAgra?
No. IdrAgraWEB does not replace IdrAgra, but makes its use more accessible to users who want to work with a guided interface and pre-integrated data. The calculation model remains IdrAgra; IdrAgraWEB simplifies input preparation, execution, and interpretation of results. For complex applications, advanced customizations, or simulations at the irrigation district/consortium scale, the full version of IdrAgra remains the reference tool.
FAQ — Model and theoretical foundations
1. What is the difference between irrigation requirement and applied irrigation volume?
Irrigation requirement represents the amount of water needed to avoid or limit crop water stress, given the soil, climate, crop, and irrigation method conditions. The applied irrigation volume, on the other hand, is the amount of water actually supplied to the field.
In simulations focused on irrigation requirements, IdrAgra calculates how much water the crop would need. In resource-use simulations, however, the model can take into account actual water availability, sources, networks, irrigation schedules, and losses; in this case, the irrigation requirement may not be fully satisfied.
2. How is evapotranspiration calculated?
The model first calculates reference evapotranspiration using the FAO Penman-Monteith method and daily meteorological data. The model then applies the FAO-56 dual crop coefficient approach, distinguishing between crop transpiration and soil evaporation. This makes it possible to better represent system behaviour after rainfall or irrigation, when the surface soil may contribute significantly to evaporation.
3. How is crop growth simulated?
Growth is simulated through the accumulation of Growing Degree Days. Each crop has thermal thresholds that describe the transition between phenological stages. When the cumulative thermal sum reaches a threshold, the model updates parameters such as the crop coefficient, leaf area, crop height, and root depth. For some crops, photoperiod and vernalization may also be taken into account.
4. How is water stress estimated?
Water stress is estimated by comparing the water available in the root zone with the crop's transpiration demand. If soil water content falls below a critical threshold, the plant can no longer transpire at the potential rate. The model therefore reduces actual transpiration and, if the stress persists or occurs during sensitive stages, may estimate a reduction in yield.
5. How is yield estimated?
Yield is estimated from the biomass produced, which depends on actual crop transpiration and water productivity. The model then accounts for the effects of water stress and heat stress through specific coefficients, which may vary depending on the crop and phenological stage. Simulated yield is therefore a model-based estimate useful for comparing scenarios, rather than a direct measurement of field production.
6. How can I use the “USE” mode in IdrAgra?
The “USE” mode, or USE mode, is available in the IdrAgra model and is designed to simulate the actual use of irrigation resources, taking into account water sources, water availability, networks, conveyance efficiencies, irrigation units, and schedules. It is particularly suitable for studies at the irrigation district, command-area, or consortium scale.
In the current configuration of IdrAgraWEB, this mode is not included in the standard platform workflow. IdrAgraWEB is primarily aimed at users interested in the agronomic and irrigation management of a limited number of fields, with a guided experience and pre-integrated data. For simulations of resource use at the network or consortium scale, the use of the full version of IdrAgra is recommended.